In the course of the ALGADEC-project it was possible to develop a semi-automatic nucleic acid biosensor for the detection of toxic algae. The functionality of the device, even in the hands of lay persons, was shown with laboratory algae cultures, field samples spiked with algae cultures and field samples with naturally occurring toxic algae. However, in the future, the system has to be calibrated and optimised in respect to sensitivity for the detection of the target organisms. The sensitivity of the device is a crucial issue and has to be adapted, to the reference values for toxic algae e.g. toxic ''Alexandrium sp.'' in sea water of around ~100 – 250 cells/liter.

In the course of the ALGADEC-project it was possible to develop a semi-automatic nucleic acid biosensor for the detection of toxic algae. The functionality of the device, even in the hands of lay persons, was shown with laboratory algae cultures, field samples spiked with algae cultures and field samples with naturally occurring toxic algae. However, in the future, the system has to be calibrated and optimised in respect to sensitivity for the detection of the target organisms. The sensitivity of the device is a crucial issue and has to be adapted, to the reference values for toxic algae e.g. toxic ''Alexandrium sp.'' in sea water of around ~100 – 250 cells/liter.

The original idea of the ALGADEC project was to develop a nucleic acid biosensor for the detection of toxic algae. But the technology suggests an adaptation e.g. to the monitoring of microalgae in general. Therefore, molecular probes will be developed for key species of the phytoplankton of the North Sea. Furthermore, we are currently working on the automation of all steps involved in the analysis of water samples. In the long term a fully automated nucleic acid biosensor will be available that could work on its own or be implemented to the [[Ships_of_opportunity_and_ferries_as_instrument_carriers|FerryBox-System]] in order to monitor microalgae autonomously at species level.

The original idea of the ALGADEC project was to develop a nucleic acid biosensor for the detection of toxic algae. But the technology suggests an adaptation e.g. to the monitoring of microalgae in general. Therefore, molecular probes will be developed for key species of the phytoplankton of the North Sea. Furthermore, we are currently working on the automation of all steps involved in the analysis of water samples. In the long term a fully automated nucleic acid biosensor will be available that could work on its own or be implemented to the [[Ships_of_opportunity_and_ferries_as_instrument_carriers|FerryBox-System]] in order to monitor microalgae autonomously at species level.

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==See also==

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===Internal Links===

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*[[Harmful algal bloom]]

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*[[Real-time algae monitoring]]

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*[[Eutrophication in coastal environments]]

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===External Links===

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*[http://www.algadec.net ALGADEC]

==References==

==References==

Versie van 23 sep 2008 om 09:54

This article is recommended by the editorial team.

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Introduction

Microalgae are the major producers of biomass and organic compounds in the aquatic environment. Among the marine microalgae there are 97 toxic species (mainly dinoflagellates) known to have the potential to form "Harmful Algal Blooms", the so called HABs (Fig. 1).

Figure 1 Bloom of Noctiluca scintillas in October 2002, Leigh, New Zealand.

In recent decades, the public health and economic impacts of toxic algae species appear to have increased in frequency, intensity and geographic distribution (Zingone and Enevoldsen, 2000[1], Daranas et al., 2001[2], Hallegraeff, 2003[3], Moestrup, 2004.[4]). In order to minimise the damage to human health or living resources, such as shellfish and fish, as well as economic losses to fishermen, aquaculture and the tourist industry, efficient monitoring methods are required for monitoring potentially toxic algal species (identification and quantification) (Andersen et al., 2003.[5]).

Figure 2 Schematic drawing of a sandwich hybridisation. The target organism is identified by binding of two species specific molecular probes to the ribosomal RNA (rRNA). One of the probes is immobilised on the surface of the sensorchip and the other is coupled to digoxigenin, which binds to an antibody enzyme-complex. The enzyme catalyses a redox-reaction that can be measured as an electrochemical signal.

The identification of unicelluar algae with conventional methods like light microscopy requires a thorough taxonomic expertise and is time-consuming. It is also costly if larger numbers of samples need to be processed. In some cases toxic and non-toxic varieties (strains) belong to the same species. They are morphologically identical, and cannot be distinguished by conventional methods. Consequently, improved monitoring methods that allow rapid detection and counting of toxic algae are needed. In the past decade, a variety of molecular methods have been adapted for the detection of harmful algae. Most of these techniques focus on the genetic information in the DNA or RNA (both nucleic acids) of the organisms. However, most of these new techniques are lab-based and not suited to be carried out in the field.

Methods and techniques

Figure 3(A) The biosensor in briefcase format. Subsequent to a manual filtration of a water sample and addition of the lysis-buffer, all steps involved in the detection of toxic algae are carried out automatically in the device. (B) The top part shows a disposable multiprobe sensor chip with 16 electrodes. The multiprobe chip allows the detection of 14 analytes and a positive, as well as a negative control in parallel. The lower part shows the hybridisation-chamber that hosts the detection reaction. Prior to the detection reaction, the multiprobe sensorchip has to be inlayed into the block with the hybridisation chamber. (C) Process chart of the nucleic acid biosensor. After addition of lysis buffer, the filtered sample is inserted to the inlet and pumped into the hybridisation chamber. The different steps of the diction reaction like hybridisation, washing, addition of redox-substrate are executed automatically. Temperature regulation in the hybridisation chamber is carried out by a pellitier element.

In order to detect toxic algae in the field, a portable semi-automated nucleic acid biosensor was developed in the ALGADEC project www.algadec.net. This device enables the electrochemical detection of microalgae from water samples in less than two hours, without the need of expensive equipment. The detection of the toxic algae is carried out on a sensor chip and is based on the so-called sandwich hybridisation technique (Fig. 2).
The ALGADEC detection device is semi-automatic. The main steps are executed automatically but filtering and a lysis procedure (digestion of the filtered material) has to be done by hand. The core of the biosensor is a multiprobe chip (Fig. 3) that can be used for the simultaneous detection of 14 different toxic algae plus two controls. Thus, it can be used to detect the species composition in harmful algal blooms.

Sandwich hybridisation

A sandwich hybridisation is a molecular probe-based method for rapid target identification that uses two molecular probes targeting ribosomal RNA (rRNA). A capture probe bound to a solid surface immobilises the target ribosomal RNA and forms a hybrid complex with a second signal probe. An antibody-enzyme complex binds to the signal moiety of the signal probe and reacts with a substrate forming an electrochemical current on the biosensor (Metfies et al., 2005.[6]).

Molecular Probes

Molecular probes are short oligonucleotides (18-25 bases) that are complementary to specific sequences in the genomes of the target organism. Ribosomal RNA genes are widely used targets for the development of molecular probes. They appear in high numbers in target cells and have both conservative and highly variable regions, which make it possible to develop probes that are specific at different taxonomic levels (Groben et al., 2004.[7]).

Implementation

The goal of ALGADEC was the automatic detection of the different toxic algae species in three different areas in Europe: Skagerrak in Norway, the Galician coast in Spain and the area of the Orkney Islands in Scotland. Thus, chip sets for different toxic algae have been developed and tested in the lab for specificity with cultures of known toxic and non-toxic varieties of the same species (Diercks et al., 2008.[8]). The applicability of the ALGADEC biosensor for the detection of toxic algae in the hands of lay persons was evalutated in a workshop with end users of the device. After an introduction of the end users to the handling manual, contaminated field samples from the Orkney Islands (UK) were successfully screened by the end users for the presence of cells from the genus Pseudonitzschia. Chip sets for the following toxic algae are currently available:

Dinophysis sp.

Pseudonitzschia sp.

Lingolodinium polyedrum

Chrysochromulina polylepis

Prospects

In the course of the ALGADEC-project it was possible to develop a semi-automatic nucleic acid biosensor for the detection of toxic algae. The functionality of the device, even in the hands of lay persons, was shown with laboratory algae cultures, field samples spiked with algae cultures and field samples with naturally occurring toxic algae. However, in the future, the system has to be calibrated and optimised in respect to sensitivity for the detection of the target organisms. The sensitivity of the device is a crucial issue and has to be adapted, to the reference values for toxic algae e.g. toxic Alexandrium sp. in sea water of around ~100 – 250 cells/liter.
The original idea of the ALGADEC project was to develop a nucleic acid biosensor for the detection of toxic algae. But the technology suggests an adaptation e.g. to the monitoring of microalgae in general. Therefore, molecular probes will be developed for key species of the phytoplankton of the North Sea. Furthermore, we are currently working on the automation of all steps involved in the analysis of water samples. In the long term a fully automated nucleic acid biosensor will be available that could work on its own or be implemented to the FerryBox-System in order to monitor microalgae autonomously at species level.